EP0575710A1 - Slab shaped sound absorbing element for use under soffits - Google Patents

Abstract

A slab-shaped sound-absorbing element (2) is used for mounting below a ceiling, in particular below the ceiling of a large room or a hall, and is provided with a core layer (5) which consists of a porous fibre material absorbing sound waves. The core layer (5) is provided with a porous lamination (7) at least on one of its flat sides. So that the sound-absorbing element (2) can be disposed of without problems during waste removal, it also being required to be comparable to known sound-absorbing elements as regards its acoustic properties, the core layer (5) consists of raw compressed sheep's wool. The individual fibres (6) of the sheep's wool are bound by a cured binder, in particular synthetic resin, to obtain an inherent stiffness of the core layer (5). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a plate-shaped sound insulation element for mounting below a ceiling, in particular below the ceiling of a large room or a hall, with a core layer made of a porous, sound wave absorbing fiber material, which is provided at least on one flat side with a porous lamination.

A plate-shaped soundproofing element for mounting below a ceiling is disclosed, for example, in publication G 91 11 178. This soundproofing element, designed like a baffle, has a core made of compressed glass wool, on the two flat sides of which a glass fiber fleece is attached, which is laminated on the outside with a layer of paint.

There are also plate-shaped sound insulation elements known and also extensive in use, in which the sound absorbing material consists of rock wool.

A disadvantage of these known sound insulation elements is that the insulation materials used therein involve not insignificant health risks. This applies in particular to the rock wool material, since this material is made up of very short fibers and therefore there is a risk that individual fibers will get stuck in the lungs of humans. The aforementioned health Risks also lead to the fact that such materials already fall into the "hazardous waste" category when they are disposed of, and therefore their disposal involves many problems. The dangers shown are not so pronounced with glass wool, but glass wool is also not entirely harmless as an insulating material.

The invention has for its object to provide a plate-shaped soundproofing element that can be disposed of as part of the waste disposal without problems and which is comparable in terms of its acoustic properties with the known soundproofing elements, for example based on stone wool.

To solve the problem , together with the features mentioned at the beginning, it is proposed that the core layer consist of raw, compressed sheep's wool, the individual fibers of the sheep's wool being bound by a hardened binder in order to achieve an inherent rigidity of the core layer.

The invention is based on the knowledge that sheep wool has a pronounced acoustic insulation behavior which, according to initial estimates, is no worse than when using rock wool or glass wool. With regard to the problems in waste disposal, sheep's wool, on the other hand, is far superior to the two known materials, since it is a purely natural product which is subject to a natural decomposition process as waste. The individual fibers are much longer than with rock wool and glass wool, so that there is no significant risk of the fibers getting stuck in the human lungs.

However, compressed sheep's wool does not have its own stiffness, which is why the invention proposes to bind the individual fibers of the sheep's wool in order to achieve an inherent stiffness in the core layer. This is done using a hardening binder.

The inherent stability of the core layer can be further increased by adding 10 to 25 percent, preferably about 20 percent, by volume to the sheep's wool. Like sheep's wool, cotton is a renewable natural product. The binder should also be made on a natural basis. According to one embodiment of the invention, it is therefore proposed that the binder consist of synthetic resin.

In order to keep the lamination largely free of environmentally harmful substances, it is also proposed that the lamination consist of an open-pore water-based paint layer.

Finally, an embodiment of the soundproofing element is characterized in that fastening elements are anchored in the core layer. This eliminates the need for additional measures to attach the fastening elements required for the arrangement of the sound insulation element below the ceiling to the outer surface of the sound insulation element.

Fig. 1

In einer Schnittdarstellung ein plattenförmiges Schalldämmelement sowie dessen Befestigung unterhalb einer Raumdecke und

Fig. 2

in drei Teilschnitten unterschiedliche Arten der Anordnung plattenförmiger Schalldämmelemente unterhalb einer Raumdecke.

Further details and advantages result from the following description of the associated drawing, in which preferred embodiments of plate-shaped soundproofing elements are shown for mounting below a ceiling. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

In a sectional view, a plate-shaped soundproofing element and its attachment below a ceiling and

Fig. 2

in three partial sections different types of arrangement of plate-shaped sound insulation elements below a ceiling.

Fig. 1 shows a sound insulation element 2 to be arranged below a ceiling in the form of a plate or baffle. Fig. 2 shows that several rows of such soundproofing elements 2 are provided, each row in turn being composed of several soundproofing elements 2 arranged one behind the other. The type of arrangement of the sound insulation elements 2 below a ceiling 1 can be chosen depending on the acoustic requirements. In the arrangement shown on the left in FIG. 2, the individual sound insulation elements 2 hang vertically downwards, while in the middle representation of FIG. 2 the sound insulation elements 2 are fastened horizontally under the ceiling 1 by means of rails 3. In the right representation of FIG. 2, the individual soundproofing elements 2 are suspended obliquely with the aid of guy wires 4.

Details of the sound insulation elements 2 are shown in FIG. 1. The soundproofing element 2 has a core layer 5, which consists primarily of raw, compressed sheep's wool. The individual fibers 6 of the sheep's wool are bound by a hardened binder. Synthetic resin is used as the binder, which, in the hardened state, gives the core layer 5 such stability that it is inherently stable and the individual soundproofing elements 2 can therefore also be mounted firmly in a horizontal arrangement below a ceiling.

When manufacturing the soundproofing elements 2, the raw, i.e. Unwoven sheep's wool placed in a rectangular shape and compressed therein. Synthetic resin is then added, the compression pressure being maintained until the synthetic resin binds the individual wool fibers. This creates an inherently stable plate, which is then provided on one or both flat sides with a porous lamination 7 in the form of an open-pore water-based paint layer. Such a porous lamination is also possible on the edges if there are appropriate hygienic requirements.

The sound insulation element 2 designed in this way absorbs sound waves very well, the liner 7 being open-pored Structure hardly impairs the acoustic insulation effect of the core layer 5 made of sheep's wool. The lamination 7, however, makes it easy to maintain the surface of the sound-absorbing element 2, so that, in addition to an application in industrial production halls, it can also be used in large laboratory rooms or kitchens. Since sheep's wool is a long-fiber product made from a renewable natural material, the soundproofing element 2 does not pose any health risks. Sheep wool is also naturally degradable. Another advantage of sheep's wool is that it tolerates a relatively large amount of moisture without aging. The lamination 7 also gives the soundproofing element 2 sufficient resistance to mold and bacteria.

In Fig. 1 it is shown that in the upper narrow side of the soundproofing element 2, a fastener 8 designed in the manner of a coil spring is embedded. The fastening element 8 can be subsequently screwed into the sound insulation element 2, but it can also be inserted during the manufacture of the sound insulation element 2 and then anchored in the core layer 5 during the hardening process. The fastening element 8 is provided at its upper end with a hook 9 which is suspended in an angle plate 11 which is arranged displaceably on a T-rail 10. The T-rail 10 is fastened either directly or at a distance below the ceiling and can also be embedded in it if sufficient space is left for inserting the plate elements 2.

To achieve an inherent stability of the sound insulation element 5 synthetic resin is used as a binding agent for binding the individual fibers of the core layer. Cellulose can also be used as a binder. In view of the natural degradability, synthetic resin is preferred. The inherent stability can be further increased by adding about 20 percent to the volume of cotton wool.

Reference symbol list

1

ceiling

2nd

Soundproofing element

3rd

rail

4th

Guy

5

Core layer

6

fiber

7

Lamination

8th

Fastener

9

hook

10th

T-rail

11

Angle plate

Claims (5)

Plate-shaped soundproofing element for installation below a ceiling, in particular below the ceiling of a large room or hall, with a core layer made of a porous, sound wave absorbing fiber material, which is provided with a porous lining at least on one flat side,
characterized by
that the core layer (5) consists of raw, compressed sheep's wool, the individual fibers (6) of the sheep's wool being bound by a hardened binder in order to achieve an inherent rigidity of the core layer (5). Soundproofing element according to claim 1, characterized in that cotton is added to the core layer (5) in a volume fraction of 10 to 25 percent, preferably approximately 20 percent. Soundproofing element according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the binder consists of synthetic resin. Soundproofing element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lamination (7) consists of an open-pore water-based paint layer. Sound insulation element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that fastening elements (8) are anchored in the core layer (5).

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